The Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure regards linguistics as a part of semiotics and takes “a sign as the combination of signifier and signified” (1916:15). All relationships between an object and the name are social constructs. These constructs can then shift and change throughout the progression of time. English 103 Critical Thanking and Writing: PROMPT: Archetypes and presentations of media have new meanings today that have shifted over the last several decades. Advertising and media provide images and ideals that impact our understanding of archetypes in contemporary media. For your final paper, select a media archetype (for example the idea of darkness, a crossroads, a loner, etc) from the links provided on Canvass. Research original meanings of these archetypes and how they reflected society at the time. What is the background of the archetype? What issues or problems arose from the archetype. FOR YOUR THESIS: What is your understanding of the meaning of the archetype today? How is it a social construct today? Then track the changes in these signifiers as what they signified changed. Finally, what are modern signifiers of the signs today? What impact do they have? How does this meaning impact identity, images, consumption today, what are examples of these today, and why are these differences important? Essay Requirements: You must reference de Saussure in this essay and list it in the works cited page7-10 pages, typed, double-spaced, MLA format with annotated bibliography. Format: Name and pg # on each page. Standard 1″ (or so) margins. Cover sheet is optional – but it does not count as one of your “pages” Please use a standard font – Times, Bookman, and size your font at 11 or 12, anything smaller is hard to read, bigger is sucking up space. Double Space your lines – it is difficult for me to make notes on single spaced essays, and it really hurts my eyes. For your research, you must locate 4 (minimum) reputable/peer reviewed/academic sources to support the ideas presented in your paper. You may use your textbook (Signs Of Life In The U.S.A 9th ed.), but regardless of how much you quote from it, your text will only count as ONE source, even if you use more than one article. Your other sources may include library databases on the MSJC website, online research, films, television or mythological sources for A TOTAL OF 6 SOURCES minimum!